CIBC Caribbean helping to create good citizens 

Paths to good citizenship were mapped out for about 50 students from Cuthbert Moore and Welches Primary schools during a special half-day workshop aimed at helping them make choices that reflect good citizenship and online security.

The event was held at CIBC Caribbean Warrens Great House under the bank’s Adopt-A-Cause programme in conjunction with the Progressive Optimist Club of Barbados. Commenting on the event, the Club’s president, Richelle Lucas, stressed the need for young people growing up in an increasingly digital world to understand not only the laws and values that keep society safe but also how to use the internet and social media responsibly.

The two-segment workshop saw attorney-at-law, Faith Greaves-Boyce, presenting on ‘Respect for Law’ while CIBC Caribbean officials, Jeremy Estwick and Chad Hinds focused on Internet Safety/Digital Citizenship.

Greaves-Boyce discussed how and why laws were made as she reminded the Class Four students that being good citizens meant respecting the law. During her interactive sessions, the children participated in several scenarios, including one that illustrated the difference between stealing and getting permission to take an item. They also looked at other offences such as jaywalking, littering, non-use of seat belts and agreed that they should comply with the related laws.

The attorney implored the students to put into action what they had learned. Noting that they were about to move from the primary to secondary school level, Greaves-Boyce urged them to focus on their goals at their new schools, adding that throughout one’s life, making wise choices were critical since choices could make or break you.

‘Use your brain when someone encourages you to do something which you know you shouldn’t do… don’t do it,’ she stressed.

The issue of citizenship came under the spotlight again during the segment on Internet Safety/Digital Citizenship. Turning attention to cyberbullying and online harassment, Estwick and Hinds used several examples to explain the negative effects that cyberbullying can have on a victim, and they asked the students to consider what they could do about a mean post that humiliates someone.

Hinds encouraged them to show empathy, and said, ‘Being a good digital citizen means taking [action to support victims] and knowing how to protect yourself.’ He also warned against retaliating, adding that back-and-forth arguments would do no good.

The students said they would not share mean messages but would report them to the website. They were advised that they should take and save a  screenshot as evidence, so that if subsequently deleted, the website could still have what was needed to remove the poster.

Estwick told the students that everything they saw online was not factual and explained that with AI, a poster could create deepfakes using someone’s appearance and voice to make a video appear authentic. Checking the sources of videos, paying attention to spelling, for example, the use of ‘uu’ for a ‘w’, were among the other methods mentioned for establishing legitimacy.

Think before you post, Estwick suggested as he spoke about the potential impact posts made even now, as 11-year-olds could have on the children’s future with regards to job applications and college admissions.

“If you post something now, you may think that in coming years [it] may not matter …but your recruiter…could easily find it,” very old posts can be found, he said.

Another bit of advice related to scams and phishing.  The 11-year-olds were advised to ignore offers of free items, such as skins for games, as these were often efforts to steal personal information.

Use common sense, Estwick said, and if an offer seems ‘too good to be true … it’s too good to be true, usually.’ In support, Hinds emphasised that messages coming from familiar sources might also be scams, since that person’s information could have been stolen and used to trap a friend.

Password security was discussed as one of the ways students could enhance their security, the presenters encouraged them to use passwords that are a combination of letters, numbers and symbols since these are more difficult for others to figure out. It was also suggested that children should use two-factor authenticity as this provided an added layer of security. The session also touched on limiting onscreen time.

Manager, Reporting and Strategic Initiatives, Technology, Infrastructure and Innovation at CIBC Caribbean Limited, Kevon Griffith said the bank welcomed the opportunity to be part of the seminar, noting “For many of these children, seeing professionals and community leaders invest their time and resources sends a message that words alone cannot: you matter, and we believe in you.’ (PR)